Amnesty annual report sheds light on the UAE Human Rights violations

In its annual report, Amnesty International urged the UAE authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners who were arbitrarily arrested for their peaceful human rights activism. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) put into effect new laws that significantly curtail freedom of expression and assembly, the report said. 

According to the annual report, the authorities extended the arbitrary detention of tens of mass trial victims past the end of their prison terms, and subjected one human rights defender and one dissident to extended ill-treatment. The government renewed its stance against recognising the rights of refugees.

The government exercised control over expression, at times censoring content in the media or cinema deemed to be immoral. At least 26 Emirati prisoners remained behind bars because of their peaceful political criticism.

The authorities refused to release at least 41 prisoners who completed their sentences during the year, bringing the total number, including those from previous years, to 48. 

All 41 were part of the “UAE-94” mass trial of 2012-2013. 

The government characterised such detentions as ongoing “counselling” for those who have “adopted extremist thought,” a procedure authorised under Article 40 of the 2014 counter-terrorism law. The law requires the Office of Public Prosecution to obtain a court order for such detentions, but does not give the detainee the right to challenge their continued detention.